Civic news

August
Ampersand Arts will be holding open auditions Sunday and Monday for 6 one-act comedies from “All in the Timing” by David Ives. No prepared pieces necessary. Ampersand is seeking roughly 11 men and eight women. Performances are slated for Oct. 8-10 and 15-17. Audition will be held Sunday from 4-6 p.m., at Byers Street Bistro, 18 Byers St., Staunton, and Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Shanti, 16 W. Beverley St., Staunton.

Spay/Neuter, Inc. will host its Monster 2009 Fundraiser for its nonprofit cat and dog rescue organization Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  in front of Jim Snead Ford, rain or shine. Grave Digger driver Chad Tingler will be there. Food, baked goods and drinks will be available along with various raffle items (one prize is a Charbroil gas grill). Free admission and freebies will be given away by PetSmart and Tendercare Veterinary Center. Leashed dogs are welcome. All proceeds benefit the cat and dogs rescued by Spay/Neuter, Inc.

The War Memorial Pool is open weekends only through Labor Day.

Bark For Life Saturday is this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gypsy Hill Park. Bark For Life is a Relay For Life fundraiser and a dogs’ walk against cancer. Games, dog demonstrations, a silent auction, fun and a celebration of life! For more information or to register, visit http://www.AugustaBark-4Life.org or contact Meg Hodges at or 434-3360.

Get free assistance researching your family history from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2827 Jefferson Lane, Waynesboro; 849-9173.

Volunteers needed — the Volunteer Money Management Program affiliated and insured by AARP, will be hosting a volunteer training event.  The training will take place Wednesday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Augusta County Government Center.  Learn the ins and outs of how to be a payee or volunteer bill payer, and help the elderly and disabled become and remain self sufficient. Interested persons are encouraged to contact Jackie Strait, at 942-6657 for further information. 

Nelson Gallery Tenth Annual Juried Show, in Lexington, concludes today. For more information, visit http://www.nelsonfineartsgallery.com or Nelson Gallery, 27 W. Washington St., Lexington.

World Heritage Student Exchange is seeking local families interested in sharing their home to provide a high school exchange student a positive encounter with the U.S. The students are screened by World Heritage, are proficient in English, 15- to 18-years-old and come for the 2009-10 school year. For more information, call Lori at 337-4135 or 800-888-9040 or visit http://www.world-heritage.org.
September
Soldiers Angels will hold a donation drive at Kroger on Arch Avenue, in Waynesboro on Sept. 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to collect items to send American troops overseas. The group will also be collecting items for the children of Iraq and Afghanistan such as school supplies, pencils, coloring books and toys (examples: frisbees, paddle balls and slinkies). For more information, call or e-mail Debbie McCormick 255-8077 or e-mail .

Sherando Community Center, Mount Torrey Road, Lyndhurst, will host bingo Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Food and plenty of parking will be available. For more information, call 943-0695.

The Community Mediation Center is offering a workshop on Mediation and Conflict Resolution. The 20-hour training is certified by the Supreme Court of Virginia and will be held Sept. 21, 22 and 23 in Harrisonburg. The workshop offers opportunities to learn principals of negotiation, understand the mediation process, improve communication skills and experience how conflict can act as a healthy and creative force for change. The workshop is for persons interested in becoming a certified mediator or for individuals who wish to develop skills for resolving personal conflicts. CEU credits are available for this course. The cost is $500 and includes the training manual. For more information, call the Community Mediation Center at 434-0059.

Valley Women’s Connection of Greater Staunton Area will hold its “Gifts and Collectibles” luncheon, Sept.9, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Mrs. Rowe’s Country Buffet, Mt. Crawford. The owner of Rebecca’s Well in Bridgewater will talk about her shop’s unusual gifts, some of which will be on display. Guest speaker, Bonnie Clarke, from Aberdeen, N.C., taught school for 28 years, collected antiques all her married life and loves to decorate with them.  She will share her story.  Cost of lunch and program is $14 inclusive. Reservations required by Sept. 4. Call 885-7353 or 248-3059.  Free child care provided. 

Valley Knitters are hosting a fundraiser at Books-A-Million on Sept 12 from noon to 4 p.m.

The Greater Verona Business Association will hold a town hall meeting and dinner Sept. 17; with Del. Steve Landes, Sen. Emmett Hanger, Dickie Bell, Erik Curren, Greg Marrow and Jeff Price as guests of honor; sponsors and attendees are sought. Sponsorship levels include program, table and major and individual tickets are $50 each, which include cocktails and dinner. Tickets quantity is limited to 80 and the evening begins at 5:30 p.m. For information, contact Tammy Lawhorne at 946-3252, e-mail or Jim Mahoney at 943-7049, e-mail .

A silent auction will be held by Verona Volunteer Fire Company from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 26; with items by many participating local businesses. For more information, call 248-2480.

Learn English and Reading Now will hold twice monthly Scrabble soirées, on the fourth Friday of each month from 6-9 p.m., titled Coffee on the Corner at 140 E. Beverley St., Staunton; and on the second Saturday of each month from 1-4 p.m. at Stone Soup Books and Café, 908 W. Main St., Waynesboro.

The Waynesboro Heritage Foundation, Inc. will be hosting USO Dance fundraiser at Fairfax Hall from 8-11 p.m. Sept. 25 Sentimental Journey Orchestra will perform. Tickets are $25 and are available at the Waynesboro Heritage Museum, 420 W. Main St., Waynesboro, or $30 at the door. For more information, call 943-3943.
The annual Wimer family reunion will be held Sept. 13 at 42 Arrow Lane, Stuarts Draft. All descendents and family of Johnnie Lee Wimer and his wife, Lydia Ann Propst Wimer, and William Roy Pullin and his wife, Josephine Catherine Page Pullin Ralston Elliott are invited. Please bring a covered dish, a lawn chair and any family history or old photographs. Lunch will begin around 1 p.m. but everyone is encouraged to come early and stay late. For more information, call 337-1494 or e-mail .

Circle 8 Square Dance Club of Waynesboro is offering square dance lessons this fall Tuesday evenings at Kate Collins School from 7-9 pm. The first two nights, Sept. 15 and Sept. 22, are FREE to give everyone a chance to experience square dancing. George Jordan, of Staunton, will be the caller and instructor and club members will be on hand to add support. The fee for 15 beginner adult lessons is $95 and for youth 10-17 is $50. Call 886-4366, 292-1230, or 456-7144 for more information.

The H.C. Edwards Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society will hold its annual sportsmen’s banquet Sept. 19, with cocktails and raffles at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7:30 p.m. at Augusta Expoland, exit 91 off Interstate 64, Fishersville; tickets are $55 with membership, spouse dinner for $20, youth membership plus dinner for $30, pre-dinner raffle tickets are $5 each or six for $20. Sponsorships are also available. Contact Kenny Wilkinson at 337-1298 or 255-2423 or e-mail at for more information.

The Waynesboro Fire Department has tentatively set the date for its fundraising auction in September but is still in need of items to be donated for that auction. No white goods please. Items may be dropped off at the fire station on Broad Street or call 942-6730 for pick up of large items.